Australia’s thriving economy and evolving workforce must make it one of the top destinations for skilled migrants worldwide. But if you’re dreaming of long-term settlement, it’s not just any job that will help you land permanent residency (PR)—you need to align with PR jobs in high demand nationwide.
This blog breaks down the top industries, occupations, and locations offering the best jobs to get PR in Australia in 2025, with key insights from Stepping Stones Career Solutions, your trusted Australian immigration partner.
Disclaimer:
Stepping Stones Career Solutions is a migration consultancy and does not provide job placement or recruitment services. Our expertise lies in helping you navigate the visa and permanent residency process in Australia.
Latest Updates as per the Department of Home Affairs
In December 2024, the Australian government introduced the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), replacing the previous Skilled Occupation List and marking a significant shift in focus towards the country’s long-term workforce needs. This new list also takes over from the old lists, aligning more closely with evolving industry demands.
While traditional occupations continue to be featured, there’s a notable inclusion of emerging fields such as sustainable energy and technology-related roles, reflecting the growing importance of these sectors in Australia’s economic future.
Alongside this change, the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa has been replaced by the newly launched Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482). This visa forms part of the broader Skilled Migration Program, which is designed to attract skilled professionals to help fill critical job gaps across the country.
The Skills in Demand visa is structured into three distinct streams:
- Specialist Skills – targeting high-income professionals with expertise in niche areas.
- Core Skills – covering key sectors such as education, construction, and health.
- Essential Skills – focused on workers needed in critical care and support industries.
These updates aim to better match Australia’s immigration pathways with current and future labor market needs, ensuring a more responsive and sustainable skilled migration system.
Along with experience in your nominated occupation gives you additional points in the General Skilled Migration (Subclass 189/190/491) category and state governments often prioritise applicants working in their nominated category while issuing state (subclass 190) and regional invites (Subclass 491).
Why Jobs in Nominated Occupations matter in 2025
- With Australia’s migration system becoming more points-based and occupation-focused, getting a job in a listed skilled profession significantly boosts your chances of qualifying for PR visas like Subclass 189, 190, and 491.
- These roles aren’t just “jobs” but strategic career pathways to securing your future in Australia.
- Jobs in your nominated occupation can also lead to employer sponsored visas like Subclass 407, 482, 494 and 186.
Best Jobs for getting PR in Australia 2025
Here are the top industries expected to remain a top priority on the Australia’s PR job list with Occupation ID for the coming financial year:
1. Healthcare and Nursing
With a growing aging population, Australia desperately needs healthcare workers. Nurses, aged care workers, and allied health professionals are among the most sought-after. However, for PR purposes Registered Nurse jobs are in great demand. There are number of specialisations in this sector, some of which are given below.
Example Roles:
- Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412)
- Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) (254413)
- Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415)
- Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418)
- Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) (254421)
- Registered Nurse nec (254499)
Pathway: These roles appear on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), which supports PR eligibility for Subclass 189/190/491 visas.
2. IT and Software Development
As tech adoption skyrockets post-pandemic, IT remains one of the most reliable sectors for Australian PR jobs.
In-demand occupations include:
- Software Engineer (261313)
- ICT Business Analyst (261111)
- ICT Security Specialist (262112)
- Computer Network and Systems Engineer (263111)
Pro Tip: Competition in the IT sector for PR invites is currently very high leading to high points requirement (often 85 to 95 points are required). Entry into entry-level PR jobs in IT (e.g., Support Engineers or Junior Dev roles) can help gain experience and open pathways for sponsor eligibility (Subclass 407/482/494/186 visas) down the line.
3 . Engineering and Construction
Ongoing infrastructure projects nationwide, particularly in metro and regional zones, have led to a shortage of engineers and construction professionals.
Key roles for PR jobs in Australia:
- Civil Engineer (233211)
- Quantity Surveyor (22213)
- Civil Engineering Draftsperson (312211)
- Civil Engineering Technician (312212)
In addition to this, there are a number of jobs at trade level that are getting a number of invites for Subclass 189/190/491 visas. Some of these jobs are:
- Painter (332211)
- Carpenter (331212)
- Bricklayer (331111)
- Solid Plasterer (333212)
- Glazier (333111)
- Wall and Floor Tiler (333411)
These roles appear in both general skilled migration streams (Subclass 189/190/491 visas) and sponsorships (Subclass 407/482/494/186 visas).
4. Education Jobs in Australia
- Early Childhood Teachers (241111)
- Primary School Teachers (241213)
- Secondary School Teachers (241411)
- Special Needs Teachers (241511)
Hot Locations – PR Jobs in Sydney and PR Jobs in Melbourne
Both Sydney and Melbourne remain top choices for skilled migrants. But did you know they also come with more competition?
Sydney: The NSW Government sponsors skilled education, health, IT and engineering professionals.
Melbourne: Victoria is actively nominating applicants in medical, IT, education, building and construction sectors.
Tip from Stepping Stones Career Solutions: Explore regional alternatives to boost your PR prospects—regional visas like the 491 offer faster pathways and extra points.
Fast-Growing Entry-Level PR Jobs in Demand
If you’re starting, don’t worry. You don’t need 10 years of experience to aim for PR.
Some entry-level PR jobs like the following are gaining traction:
- Graduate Early Childhood Teachers
- Building and Construction Workers with 1 year experience
- Graduate Registered Nurses
These roles can help you meet visa work experience requirements or qualify for employer-sponsored visas like Subclass 407 or 482.
Choosing the Best Jobs to Get PR in Australia
Choosing a career that aligns with Australia’s skilled occupation needs isn’t just brilliant—it’s essential. Here are 3 things to consider:
- Check the occupation list regularly – use official resources or consult Stepping Stones.
- Explore multiple visa options – Subclass 189, 190, 491, 494, and employer-sponsored pathways Subclass 407, 482, 494, 186 visas.
- Work with a migration expert – A MARA-registered consultant can help tailor your career path for PR success.
Get PR in Australia with Stepping Stone
Stepping Stone Career Solutions is a Melbourne-based best visa consultancy service provider. If you are looking for a trusted platform for PR in Australia, we are your one stop solutions for all your PR needs.
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Disclaimer:
Stepping Stones Career Solutions is a migration consultancy and does not provide job placement or recruitment services. Our expertise lies in helping you navigate the visa and permanent residency process in Australia.
Final Word
Australia’s skilled migration program is designed to reward those who fill genuine workforce gaps. Whether you’re eyeing tech in Melbourne or nursing in regional Queensland, the right course could be your golden ticket to becoming a permanent resident in 2025.
FAQs on High-Demand PR Jobs in Australia in 2025
What is the highest-paying PR job in Australia?
Medical professionals—especially General Practitioners, Surgeons, and Anaesthetists—often top the list of highest-paying PR-eligible occupations in Australia, with salaries exceeding $200,000 annually. These roles are consistently featured on the Skilled Occupation Lists for permanent residency pathways. However, you don’t need to be working in the highest paying jobs to get a PR in Australia. Many other jobs in the Medical field like Registered Nurses are equally favoured to get a PR invite.
Which job is best for PR in Australia?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but healthcare, engineering, IT, and education jobs offer strong PR potential due to high demand and frequent inclusion on government occupation lists. Roles that appear on the MLTSSL, like Registered Nurse or Teachers, are especially valuable.
What jobs are in demand in Australia in the next 10 years?
Health Care and Social Assistance; Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; and Education and Training, contributing to over half (50.4%) of the employment growth over the next decade.
Which field is best in 2030 in Australia?
For Australian PR, the best upcoming future fields are:-
- Engineers.
- Preschool, Primary, Secondary and Special Education School Teachers.
- Building and Construction sector skilled workers.
- Lawyers, Judges and related workers.
- Natural and Social Science Professionals.
